Leeson's study is far broader than its title suggests, encompassing not just the Black and Tans, but the relayed Auxiliaries as well. Overall he provides an interesting corrective to some of the mythology surrounding the Black and Tans, making the case that they were not the "jailbirds" and traumatized First World War veterans of popular mythology, and that many of the atrocities associated with them were often committed by the veterans of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Yet some of the author's arguments about the Auxiliaries needed refinement, particularly regarding their status as paramilitaries. It's a good start towards developing a more nuanced understanding of the the police in the Irish War of Independence, but Leeson's book is not the final word on the subject.